UKRAINE PASSES U.S NAVAL SCRAP-JUNK OFF AS ‘NEW VESSELS’ FOR ITS LACKLUSTER NAVY

Washington’s plans to sell obsolete class frigates from the Oliver Hazard Perry class to Ukraine have been ridiculed in Ukraine itself of all places. Netizens criticize the Kiev government for accepting old, used scrap and furthermore, parting with money for what would have otherwise been simply sunk.

Recently, the Ukrainian military portal mil.in.ua reported, citing its sources, that the American military attache in Kiev proposed delivering to the Ukrainian Navy American Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates.

But Internet users are skeptical of the idea.

“I think they will sell the old cans to Ukraine as if it were new or Kiev will do everything in a way to pay as if they were new [ships],” a Ukrainian source said.

“There’s nothing good about it … The ships are 50 years old and the Pentagon does not want to pay the Americans for their dismantling,” another wrote.

US ships may be delivered under the program of sale of used military equipment to other countries.

The Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates have been built since the 1970s, the latter having been withdrawn from US Navy service in 2015. However, some countries continue to use vessels of this type, such as Turkey, Australia and Egypt.

In late September, the United States handed over to Kiev two patrol boats, Drummond and Cushing, built three decades ago. Washington’s “offers” aroused mixed opinions among Ukrainians, with many mocking the delivery of obsolete vessels.

This comes as last month a budget bill, signed by US President Donald Trump, foresees $250 million to help Ukraine, the Ukrainian embassy’s press service in the United States reported.

The White House press service reported that Trump had signed a budget bill extending funding for US government work until December 7th. The signed budget includes spending on defense, education, social and health programs.

The total allocation for fiscal year 2019, which begins October 1, exceeds $850 billion, of which $675 billion is earmarked for defense. The bill is intended to fund the US military until September 30, 2019.

Paul Antonopoulos is a Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies. He has an MA in International Relations and is interested in Great Power Rivalry as well as the International Relations and Political Economy of the Middle East and Latin America.